In the 2020 NFL draft the Green Bay Packers decided to trade up in the first round to get their guy. Instead of drafting Aaron Rodgers his very first 1st round weapon, their “guy” ended up being Rodgers’ successor, Jordan Love.
The Packers are coming off a 13-3 season which also saw them fall one game short of reaching Super Bowl 54. Green Bay lost against the 49ers in San Francisco in the NFC Championship game.
Despite how different this organization was supposed to look in 2019 following Mike McCarthy’s firing after 12 years with the franchise (2006-2018), the Packers managed to overachieve in many eyes under first year head coach Matt LaFlelur. Rodgers was able to put up 4,002 passing yards to go with 26 touchdowns to only four interceptions.
A quarterback playing like that and coming one game short of reaching his second Super Bowl, usually makes a team want to give that player more talent to play with right? Especially in a draft that had 37 wide receivers selected, a ridiculously high number that shows the depth of this year’s class.
When the Packers traded up to the no.26 pick no one (especially Rodgers) thought they’d use the pick for a guy who won’t see the field as long as 12 is healthy.
The Interview
Kyle Brandt of NFL Network and the Ringer had interviewed Rodger’s on July 31.
“I was definitely surprised. When they drafted up—you know, I was watching the draft and thinking about which receiver might be there at that time. And I think there was a run on them there in the early 20s. I knew the kid from Clemson was still there and I enjoyed watching him as well. And the kid from Arizona State as well, I think they liked him.” Rodgers said.
“So when they traded up, I definitely perked up a little bit. I got a text from my agent, marketing agent who I love and he just texted “quarterback”, I was like, “Oh, wow. Ok”. I love scotch but I’ve been drinking some sipping tequila as well.” Aaron said. “Once I got that text I went to the pantry, I poured myself about four fingers, and I knew it was going to be one of those nights…”
Although Rodgers clearly sounded like he had his eyes on a shiny new receiver to compliment star wideout Davante Adams, the Packers had their’s elsewhere.
Wide Receivers Available at the 26th Pick (31/37)
- Tee Higgins
- Michael Pittman
- Laviska Shenault
- K.J. Hamler
- Chase Claypool
- Van Jefferson
- Denzel Mims
- Antonio Gibson
- Lynn Bowden
- Bryan Edwards
- Devin Duvernay
- Gabriel Davis
- Antonio Gandy Golden
- Joe Reed
- Tyler Johnson
- Collin Johnson
- Quintez Cephus
- John Hightower
- Isaiah Coulter
- Darnell Mooney
- K.J. Osborn
- Donovan Peoples Jones
- Quez Watkins
- James Proche
- Isaiah Hodgins
- Dezmond Patmon
- Freddie Swain
- Jauan Jennings
- K.J. Hill
- Malcolm Perry
- Tyrie Cleveland
Although to be fair, the Packers had more picks than just the 26th pick. They had more opportunities to potentially take one of those guys in such a deep receiver class in days 2 or 3 of the draft. They also had picks 62, 94, 175, 192, 208, 209, 236, and 242.
Despite having 8 more picks, the Packers still did not draft Rodgers a new weapon that could make the immediate impact Jordan Love can’t for a team that was just ONE win away from being NFC Champions.
The “Similarities”
Many references have tied similarities between the Brett Favre/Aaron Rodgers and the Aaron Rodgers/Jordan Love situations.
However the differences couldn’t be clearer.
During the 2005 draft Aaron Rodgers was seen as a potential no.1 overall pick but the 49ers decided to pass on the California native and took Alex Smith no.1. Rodgers continued to slide all the way down to no.24, where he fell right in the Packers lap, luckily for them. The Packers got what was considered to be a steal at the time, which turned out to be the steal of the draft. The season prior (2004-2005) the Packers finished 10-6 and were eliminated in the first round at home by the division rival, Minnesota Vikings.
On the other hand, the 2019 Packers won 13 games and a playoff game against the Seahawks and again just came within one win from Super Bowl 54. The Packers came into the 2020 NFL draft with an established quarterback who the past two seasons has thrown his two lowest amount of interceptions in a 16 game season for his entire career. Not only does Green Bay not need a quarterback, they went out of their way to get one. They gave up the no.30 and no.136 selections to move up four picks to select someone who’s impact won’t be felt in a potential 2020 Super Bowl run.
The Future
Since 2008 Aaron Rodgers has been the face of the franchise. 10 years later he got a brand new 4 year contract worth $134 million and locked up their qb until the 2024 season because he still had two years left on his current deal. Rodgers is now set to play 2020 only in his first year of his newest contract.
Now the Packers put themselves in an interesting position where they have both under contract for 4 more seasons. The Packers have a tough decision to make in their future. Will they stick with their recent extended quarterback or cut their ties and stick with their new first round pick?
Rodgers on how this all ends, with Kyle Brandt:
“I think probably the first. (I’m) The former. I think that’s what probably happens. Based on the circumstances around everything. Just look at the facts. They traded up, they drafted him. I would say they like him, they want to play him.”
Altogether not a particularly great quote for some Packers fans to read. Whether Packers fans want to hear it or not, Rodgers has a point. It would not be fundamentally sound for the franchise to hold on to both players or not to play a first round quarterback they traded up to get.
Packers’ GM, Brian Gutekunst, will either come out of this draft looking like a genius or a fool. Either way Packers’ fans will have to brace themselves for a (another) tough reality on their future Hall of Fame quarterback, that will be on the move.
